Phone Makers Start Resoldering Memory
Cheaper remanufactured DRAM creeps into entry-level handsets as contract prices keep rising.
TrendForce reported on 10 November 2026 that rising mobile DRAM contract prices are pushing brands toward remanufactured memory, mainly 4GB LPDDR4X used in 4G handsets priced below 1,299 yuan. The research house estimates penetration at 3% to 4% in 2026 and 7% to 9% in 2027, and expects DRAM price increases to strengthen again in the first quarter of 2027. The practice amounts to a quiet specification cut that will not shift the overall upward price trend, but is likely to surface later as a source of user complaints and reputational risk in the entry segment.